People are finally making “self-care” a priority. This is great after decades of workers running themselves into the ground and not enjoying the fruits of their labor.
Not everyone is choosing to take care of themselves in the right ways, however.
Many treat themselves by shopping, over-consuming alcohol, and eating terrible foods, among other things.
I won’t be a complete stick in the mud… Those things are fine sometimes — and I certainly take part in them as well. You just can’t make a habit of those activities.
What self-care activities should you make a habit of, though? Here are a few…
Exercise
Man… What a treat! You get to punish your body and make your life significantly harder for a short period of time.
Yes, that’s right.
Exercise is hard. But it’s also incredibly rewarding once it’s done.
Everything is better when you exercise. Your energy is more consistent, your mind is clearer, and you feel better as a whole.
Mind fog clears. You aren’t as tired throughout the day. It heals many ailments of the modern human.
So treat yourself and go hop on a treadmill!
Follow that up with a nice dip in the hot tub
One of the great things about the gym I just joined is that it has a hot tub.
I love hot tubs. Thanks to my job, I’ve been able to dip into many hot tubs across the country this year. It has made me feel a lot better after a tough day slinging merchandise and loading heavy gear.
It’s nice after a hard workout, too.
Try to make hot tub dips a true reward, though, and not just a leisurely activity. Use it when you survived a tough day or a grueling workout. Give yourself something to look forward to while you’re challenging your body and growing as a person.
Get a massage or manicure/pedicure
I’ve actually never gotten a massage. But I know I desperately need one.
I work my body hard. It’s difficult for me to just sit around and do nothing. I like to move around and stay active.
This is why hot tubs are such a treat. And it’s why I should get a massage here and there.
Manicures and pedicures are great, too. Your feet and hands are the unsung heroes of existence. They do so much work and take such a beating. And, especially when it comes to your feet, they are often hidden up and concealed as if they aren’t even there.
Give them the shine they deserve! And throw some nail polish on there, too, if you’re feeling spicy.
Read!
We have so much entertainment at our fingertips nowadays. But much of it is not great for us to consume.
Many “self-care” routines include Netflix and TikTok binges. Those can be great for relaxing after a hard day. But so is reading — a task that actually works your mind and doesn’t put you into a vegetative state.
Reading is boring for some people. But that’s because it seems to be one of the view forms of entertainment that doesn’t milk your dopamine receptors for all they have.
It’s fun to have those receptors milked. But it’s not good for us.
Give your eyeballs a rest and take a break from the screens.